Mind your love of Music for your Mind
October 22nd 2008 21:34
Signature Tune
From: Times Columnist, Canada
Richard Glazier was nine years old when he rifled through his aunt Esther's record cabinet and found a recording that would change his life.
"It was Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and I loved it," said Glazier, 46, from his home in Sacramento, Calif. "My aunt suggested I write a fan letter and the rest is history."
Glazier's letter prompted lyricist Ira Gershwin to invite the young musician to his home in Beverly Hills, a story he will tell in detail at a fundraising concert for the Victoria Conservatory of Music tomorrow night.
It is Glazier's first performance in Victoria since debuting Steinway pianos here for Tom Lee Music two years ago. He is a Steinway artist.
"Ira showed me his musical treasures, encouraged me and really gave me the sense of his tremendous love for his brother George."
George Gershwin, who composed the duo's legendary roster of songs, died of a brain tumour at age 38 in 1937.
The encounter inspired a passion for the Gershwins' music and the American music of that era.
"I've talked about them and played the music every day since," Glazier said.
Still, Glazier spent most of his formal studies pursuing a career in classical music. He has won many piano competitions, made debut concerts in cities around the world and achieved a doctorate of musical arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
In 1996, Glazier created the show Gershwin: Remembrance and Discovery to honour the centennial anniversary of the brothers -- the elder, Ira, was born in 1896.
The multimedia show follows Glazier's personal journey with the music and era through story-telling, live music and archival footage.
The format was so popular Glazier developed similar shows honouring the American songbook (which he'll perform here), Judy Garland and more.
"This has become my life passion," he said. "To transport people to another era feels so good."
Glazier said his training as a classical musician helps his musical exploring and development of shows.
"Taking the classical discipline and intelligence to the songs is important. I give them the attention and interpretation they deserve when being presented on stage," he said.
Glazier has made a practice of unearthing rare arrangements of popular songs, rummaging through sheet music in music shops and thrift stores of cities he visits.
"I was in a second-hand store in Portland and made an incredible find: Rodgers and Hart's Where or When from Babes in Arms, arranged in the 1940s on Broadway," Glazier said.
Glazier said he will keep developing shows to preserve the songs and the era as long as he can and audiences respond. Another thing he learned from Ira Gershwin that day: "I answer every single letter."
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